Missionary Chat

[_Ray A]

That said, I'm curious: Do you feel that any of the apologists attempt to fill this same sort of role---i.e., really challenging people's testimonies? Frankly, I think that if Roberts were alive today, he would have been ex'ed by the BKP faction of GAs.

It's a totally different ballgame today. I trace this to the decline in openness and a strong focus on "orthodoxy" which began in the Joseph Fielding Smith era (1950s). The bravado and confidence subsided, and apologists became much more defensive. It's sort of like a soccer game where Team A is ploughing Team B's defence and about to score, but in the second half Team A is constantly under attack and can only defend against Team B scoring.

A Roberts-type figure would simply not be tolerated today. Can you imagine DCP coming here and playing "Devil's advocate"? And actually pointing out weaknesses in Mormon belief as if he was genuine? Roberts was both apologist and scholar, but I don't believe he put one above the other. He readily acknowledged where there were problems in Mormon belief. Today, the apologists write "problems". What "problems?"

[_bcspace]

Neither sad nor interesting. The missionaries are looking for people who are ready to believe and be baptised, hence the narrow line of reasoning.

Milk, no toast yet alone meat. You're wrong bc, it is sad, it's even skim milk at best.

I said nothing about milk vs. meat. Even from my missionaries days, we were to not to waste time with those who were not ready. The OP illustrated standard missionary practice; probing for the answer to "Are you ready?"

[_Pokatator]

I said nothing about milk vs. meat. Even from my missionaries days, we were to not to waste time with those who were not ready. The OP illustrated standard missionary practice; probing for the answer to "Are you ready?"

The missionaries are no different than a door2door salesman. They both have a script and a dog-n-pony show. They both do nothing more than is necessary to "close the deal". They both start with skim milk, if more is needed they go to 2%, if more then whole milk. But it is still all milk, no toast, no meat. That is why buyer remorse sets in for the vacuum cleaner salesman and the missionary. That is why the retention rate is so low.

One big difference is that the vacuum cleaner salesman has a real tangible product, something the buyer can hold, touch, see, and operate. The missionary only sells a vacuum, without the cleaner.

[_Pokatator]

bump for bc